Diplomatic Security Service Agents Receive National Heroism Award

The State Department is pleased to announce that 12 Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service will receive the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association National Award for Heroism this evening at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Vienna, Virginia.

Special Agents Chip McElhattan, Jon Davidson, Kirby Rosenbluth, Cornell Chasten, Richard Crosby, Corey Ford, Steve Miller, Tim Gruchacz, Sean Odenthal, Daniel Wutrich, Steven Rice and Christian Mazerolle initially were nominated for the Bravery Award for their courageous performance in the evacuation of American citizens and other foreign nationals trapped in Palestinian territories in March and April 2002.

After reviewing the nomination, however, the awards committee determined that these special agents deserved the National Award for Heroism, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Associationís highest honor.

The efforts of these Diplomatic Security Service agents demonstrate the great lengths to which we go to ensure the safety of American citizens overseas. We congratulate them for their outstanding work.